Local EMT faces “sexting” charge

Allegheny County Police have filed several charges against a local emergency medical technician (EMT) and firefighter accused of “sexting” with a 16-year-old Bellevue girl.

Thomas Scott George, 44, of Avalon, faces felony charges of dissemination of pornography to a minor and unlawful contact with a minor, as well as a misdemeanor charge of corruption of minors, in connection with exchanges he had with the girl on Aug. 4.

Court records indicate that George first met the girl when he was employed as an EMT with NorthWest EMS, and transported her to the hospital. The girl reportedly expressed interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter, police say, and George, who is a firefighter with the Ben Avon Volunteer Fire Company, reportedly gave her his cell phone number and told her to contact him if she wanted to discuss volunteering after she was released from the hospital.

At some point the girl reportedly contacted George, and they had several exchanges via telephone, text message and the app “KIK.”

During one of those exchanges, police say George asked that the girl send him a picture of herself, and she sent him a photo of her breasts. Police say George then sent the girl a photo of his genitals as well as another inappropriate picture.

Police also recovered a communication in which the two discussed sexual positions.

The girl is reported to have related the exchanges to Bellevue Police Department’s school resource officer working at Northgate High School, after which the county police took over investigation of the case.

Criminal charges were filed Wednesday, Sept. 30, at which time George was taken into custody and placed in the Allegheny County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He is reported to be out on bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8.

George has been employed as an EMT for the past eight years, and has been responsible for developing several specialized rescue teams. NorthWest EMS owner George Dudash said that George has been suspended indefinitely without pay. He added that the company was completely unaware that George was reportedly engaging in any illegal or inappropriate behavior during his off-duty hours, and that they did not learn of the criminal investigation until George was arrested.